There are 6 ways to get from Plovdiv to Istanbul by bus, train, car, or plane
Select an option below to see step-by-step directions and to compare ticket prices and travel times in Rome2Rio's travel planner.
Bus
best- Take the bus from Plovdiv Bus Station South to Istanbul Esenler OtogariArda - Tur
5h 35m₺1,000–1,500Train
cheapest- Take the train from Plovdiv to Halkalı
9h 17m₺505–2,905Train via Svilengrad
- Take the train from Plovdiv to SvilengradRe / ...
- Take the train from Svilengrad to Halkalı
9h 10m₺556–858Drive 410.7 km
- Drive from Plovdiv to Istanbul410.7 km
3h 54m₺2,749–3,970Bus, fly
- Take the bus from Plovdiv North Bus and Coach Station to Sofia Airport Terminal 1 Bus Stop
- Fly from Sofia Airport (SOF) to Istanbul (IST)SOF - IST
- Take the bus from Istanbul Airport Bus to Istanbul Otogari
7h 6m₺4,034–10,652Bus via Bayrampaşa
- Take the bus from Plovdiv to Bayrampaşa
7h 46m₺650–1,700
Plovdiv to Istanbul by bus
Questions & Answers
The cheapest way to get from Plovdiv to Istanbul is to train via Svilengrad which costs 550 ₺ - 900 ₺ and takes 9h 10m.
The fastest way to get from Plovdiv to Istanbul is to drive which takes 3h 54m and costs 2.700 ₺ - 4.000 ₺.
Yes, there is a direct bus departing from Plovdiv Bus Station South station and arriving at Istanbul Esenler Otogari. Services depart four times a day, and operate every day. The journey takes approximately 5h 35m.
No, there is no direct train from Plovdiv to Istanbul. However, there are services departing from Plovdiv and arriving at Yenikapi via Svilengrad and Halkali. The journey, including transfers, takes approximately 9h 10m.
The distance between Plovdiv and Istanbul is 458 km. The road distance is 410.7 km.
The best way to get from Plovdiv to Istanbul without a car is to bus which takes 5h 35m and costs 1.000 ₺ - 1.500 ₺.
The bus from Plovdiv Bus Station South to Istanbul Esenler Otogari takes 5h 35m including transfers and departs four times a day.
Plovdiv to Istanbul bus services, operated by Arda Tur, depart from Plovdiv Bus Station South.
Plovdiv to Istanbul train services, operated by Bulgarian Railways (BDZh), depart from Plovdiv station.
The best way to get from Plovdiv to Istanbul is to bus which takes 5h 35m and costs 1.000 ₺ - 1.500 ₺. Alternatively, you can train via Svilengrad, which costs 550 ₺ - 900 ₺ and takes 9h 10m.
What companies run services between Plovdiv, Bulgaria and Istanbul, Turkey?
Arda Tur operates a bus from Plovdiv Bus Station South to Istanbul Esenler Otogari 3 times a day. Tickets cost ₺1,134 and the journey takes 5h 35m. Four other operators also service this route. Alternatively, you can take a train from Plovdiv to Yenikapi via Svilengrad and Halkali in around 9h 10m.
Transport is disrupted due to the Russia-Ukraine war. Read more
- Website
- turkishairlines.com
Flights from Sofia Airport to Istanbul
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 31m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- ₺3,000–10,000
- Website
- tarom.ro
Flights from Sofia Airport to Istanbul via Bucharest Otopeni
- Ave. Duration
- 3h 35m
- When
- Wednesday to Friday
- Estimated price
- ₺3,000–10,000
- Website
- en.aegeanair.com
Flights from Sofia Airport to Istanbul via Athens
- Ave. Duration
- 3h 45m
- When
- Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, and Saturday
- Estimated price
- ₺4,400–11,000
- Phone
- +35929311111
- onlineticket@bdz.bg
- Website
- bdz.bg
Train from Plovdiv to Svilengrad
- Ave. Duration
- 2h 23m
- Frequency
- 5 times a day
- Estimated price
- ₺210–315
- Website
- https://www.bdz.bg/en
- 2nd Class
- ₺210–290
- 1st Class
- ₺305–315
- Phone
- +90 444 8 233
- cozum@tcddtasimacilik.gov.tr
- Website
- tcdd.gov.tr
Train from Svilengrad to Halkalı
- Ave. Duration
- 5h 9m
- Frequency
- Once daily
- Estimated price
- ₺320–500
- Website
- https://www.tcdd.gov.tr/lang/en
Train from Plovdiv to Halkalı
- Ave. Duration
- 8h 39m
- Frequency
- Once daily
- Estimated price
- ₺470–2,860
- Website
- https://www.tcdd.gov.tr/lang/en
- Double Room
- ₺1,588
- Single Room
- ₺2,860
- Four Person Room
- ₺1,396
- Phone
- +359 700 20 544
- Website
- ardatur.bg
Bus from Plovdiv Bus Station South to Istanbul Esenler Otogari
- Ave. Duration
- 5h 35m
- Frequency
- 3 times a day
- Estimated price
- ₺1,134
- Website
- https://ardatur.bg/en/
- Phone
- +359 0885700870
- support@citylines.eu
- Website
- citylines.eu
Bus from Plovdiv Bus Station South to Istanbul Esenler Otogari
- Ave. Duration
- 6h 30m
- Frequency
- 3 times a day
- Estimated price
- ₺1,200–1,700
- Website
- https://citylines.eu/
- Phone
- +49 30 300 137 300
- service@flixbus.com
- Website
- flixbus.fr
Bus from Plovdiv Bus Station South to Istanbul Esenler Otogari
- Ave. Duration
- 5h 45m
- Frequency
- Twice daily
- Estimated price
- ₺1,370–1,400
- Website
- https://www.flixbus.co.uk
- Phone
- +90 212 658 18 51
- info@alparturizm.com.tr
- Website
- alparturizm.com.tr
Bus from Plovdiv Bus Station South to Istanbul Esenler Otogari
- Ave. Duration
- 5h
- Frequency
- Once daily
- Estimated price
- ₺1,000–1,500
- Website
- https://www.alparturizm.com.tr/en/
- Phone
- +90 212 658 00 61
- info@huntur.com.tr
- Website
- huntur.com.tr
Bus from Plovdiv Bus Station South to Istanbul Esenler Otogari
- Ave. Duration
- 5h 30m
- Frequency
- Once daily
- Estimated price
- ₺1,100–1,400
- Website
- https://www.huntur.com.tr/
- Phone
- 07001 8282
- booking@union-ivkoni.com
- Website
- union-ivkoni.com
Bus from Plovdiv North Bus and Coach Station to Sofia Airport Terminal 1 Bus Stop
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 55m
- Frequency
- Once daily
- Estimated price
- ₺300–440
- Website
- https://union-ivkoni.com/en
- Phone
- 0850 888 33 34
- info@hava.ist
- Website
- hava.ist
Bus from Istanbul Airport Bus to Istanbul Otogari
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 15m
- Frequency
- Hourly
- Estimated price
- ₺130–220
- Website
- https://hava.ist/?lang=en
- Phone
- 0850 222 34 55
- Website
- metroturizm.com.tr
Bus from Plovdiv to Bayrampaşa
- Ave. Duration
- 7h 35m
- Frequency
- Once daily
- Estimated price
- ₺650–1,610
- Website
- https://www.metroturizm.com.tr/en
- Standard
- ₺650–800
Want to know more about travelling around Türkiye
Rome2Rio's Travel Guide series provide vital information for the global traveller. Filled with useful and timely travel information, the guides answer all the hard questions - such as 'How do I buy a ticket?', 'Should I book online before I travel? ', 'How much should I expect to pay?', 'Do the trains and buses have Wifi?' - to help you get the most out of your next trip.
Related travel guides
Want to know more about Flixbus?
Read the travel guide
More Questions & Answers
Plovdiv to Istanbul bus services, operated by Arda Tur, arrive at Istanbul Esenler Otogari station.
Istanbul is 1h ahead of Plovdiv. It is currently 3:58 PM in Plovdiv and 4:58 PM in Istanbul.
Plovdiv to Istanbul train services, operated by Bulgarian Railways (BDZh), arrive at Svilengrad station.
Yes, the driving distance between Plovdiv to Istanbul is 411 km. It takes approximately 3h 54m to drive from Plovdiv to Istanbul.
Book your Plovdiv to Istanbul bus tickets online with Omio, Distribusion and FlixBus.
There are 4447+ hotels available in Istanbul.